Lao PDR

Lao PDR took part in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the 14th of May, during the 8th UPR session of the Council. Lao PDR joined the session with a delegation of 19 members, led by H.E. Phongsavath Boupha, the vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs.

For the review to take place, it is required that the country in questions hands in a national report describing the situation. The UN provides a compilation report, and stakeholders, such as civil society organisations, also provide a stakeholder report. All documents relating to the review, can be found from the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 

The working group of review countries, the so called troika, was composed of Argentina, Kyrgyzstan and Nigeria. As many as 25 member states and 32 observer states took part in the interactive discussion.

Several positive achievements were outlined, such as efforts to eradicate poverty, increase in representation of women in senior positions in the Government, wide access to education and public healthcare, just to name a few. Naturally, the ratification of international conventions was also seen as positive achievements.

However, many issues and questions were raised during the session. Some of them were e.g. violence against women and girls, freedom of religion and rights of ethnic groups, especially the Hmong.

As is customary, the country received several recommendations, which it may support, not support, or consider and decide to report back. All in all there were 107 recommendations.

Lao PDR supported 53 recommendations, supported and informed 3 recommendations of already being implemented, did not support 3 recommendations and decided to examine and provide responses by September 2010 on 48 recommendations.

Recommendations were given on various topics, for example on death penalty, human trafficking, ethnic groups, freedom of religion and extending standing invitations to all UN Special Procedures (e.g. independent experts and special rapporteurs) to visit the country. 

UNDP supports the Government in many ways, for example by implementing the so called Legal Sector Master Plan. The strategy of the Plan is based upon four pillars: (1) framework of laws, decrees and regulations; (2) law-related institutions that implement that legal framework; (3) means of educating and training in the use of the system; and (4) means of assuring that all the laws and regulations are accessible to both state agencies and the citizens.  

You can watch the review session on video from the OHCHR website (scroll down the page to see documentation concerning Lao PDR).  

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfill their human rights obligations. As one of the main features of the Council, the UPR is designed to ensure equal treatment for every country when their human rights situations are assessed.